Tennis player Pierre-Ludovic Duclos-Lasnier was arrested in Florida on Thursday. (Charles William Pelletier/QMI Agency/Files)

MONTREAL - Florida police on Thursday orchestrated a sting operation and arrested Quebec's highest-ranking tennis player and charged him with soliciting a 13-year-old girl for sex, leaving Canada's tennis association in shock.

Pierre-Ludovic Duclos-Lasnier, 27, allegedly tried to lure the girl through text messaging and twice sent her a picture of his penis, according to the Sheriffs' office of Manatee County, Fl., located about 50 km south of Tampa.

Police alleged that Duclos-Lasnier met the 13-year-old in early February at a tennis facility. The two started exchanging text messages around Feb 12.

Duclos-Lasnier, who was reportedly aware of the girl's age, allegedly offered her tennis lessons.

The girl's mother alerted police when she discovered messages sent from Duclos-Lasnier that were allegedly sexual in nature.

Florida police orchestrated a sting operation and when Duclos-Lasnier tried to meet the girl, police were waiting and arrested him.

He is facing four charges, including travel to solicit a child to commit sex acts, and attempted lewd and lascivious battery.

He was still in police custody as of Friday night. QMI Agency was unable to get updated news on his location Saturday morning.

Louis-Philippe Dorais, a spokesman for Tennis Canada, said the organization's priority is to contact Duclos-Lasnier to get his version of events.

"The news certainly affects us," he said. "However we will wait to hear from him before we comment further."

The Association of Tennis Professionals lists Duclos-Lasnier as living in Tampa, Fla. and ranks him number 610 in the world in singles play.